Christianity | Blue Collar Theology

I follow Christ, period.

I know that I live in a day and age where I am judged by the word “Christian”, but the problem with “Christian” is that there is no singular definition that suffices.

Is it “Christian” by my standard or yours, because they are probably not the same?

“Christian” has taken so many meanings from so many corners of the world for so many different eras. For some, “Christian” gets its definition from the Crusades. For others, it is the standard by which my wife wears her hair. And, I agree with you those two are not even close to being on the same playing field but that is how diverse and how polar the word “Christian” has become. It has taken on definition from the actions or lack thereof of those who are supposed to be learners of Jesus.

So, you can have “Christian” I don’t want it. I don’t want to have my life governed by a sliding scale of judgment, innuendo or manipulation. You can try and put the term on me, but I’ve decided not to wear it.

I’ve decided that I would rather get lost in the identity of Jesus. I want to live, love and look like him. Oh, he had his accusers. He had those who wanted him silenced. They were more interested in their name, their pedigree and their protocol. The accuser’s religious pride could not handle someone who just did not care about his religious appearance or his family name.

Yes, I’ve decided that I want my life to be on a trajectory of Christ. If I can stay on that trajectory then my life will have meaning. I’ll agree with you again, I’m still a long way off, but that is where I am heading.

By the way… I love the way my wife does her hair.

Excerpt taken from the book Blue Collar Theology to be released early 2013.

by Phil Sovdi

As I am writing this, I am sitting over a beautiful hotel lobby. This particular lobby shows off circles in its architectural design. The Cathedral circular expanse of lobby hosts a 6 foot wide flowing staircase that rises up the curved left side. It displays a huge 8 – 10 foot diameter chandelier that drapes itself down from the ceiling for about 10 feet. The perfectly placed tile and beautifully shaped woodwork make this room a powerful statement of elegance and wealth.
I am sitting upstairs behind a balcony overlooking the actual lobby. Where I am there is another huge circle of space set within the carpeting, defined by a hardwood floor encircled with two different colors of tile. This 25 foot circle supports one sofa, two love seats, four wing-back chairs and at least eight circular coffee end-tables. All of these furnishings give emphasis to the ten foot hearth and fire place framed in by two pillars. Above this circle molded into the ceiling is another corresponding dropped ceiling circle. This protrudes down from the ceiling and wraps the whole area in a defining ring. The inset of this ceiling circle offers yet another chandelier with the support of pot lights all around in the defining circle.
Looking at all of this design and architecture, it would be preposterous for me to think that it just got thrown together by chance. To purport such a thought concerning this creatively designed space would be great reason to question my sanity. (More than my family already does.) And, it would offend the architect and designer.
So, how do we know?
We get our first clue and great supporting evidence from the actual creation and expanse around us. There is too much design to dismiss. There is too much that is precise, far superseding a hotel lobby, to ignore a Master Architect. To ignore, indicates that someone is avoiding contact. Once being confronted with the evidence, this is a spiritual problem of avoidance and running away, not the defense that is postured of ‘open-mindedness.’